Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam
Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam ("The Association for the Support of Islam") or Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam (Urdu: انجمن حمایت اسلام) is an Islamic intellectual and social welfare organisation with branches both in India and Pakistan.[1] It was founded in Lahore on 24 September 1884 in a mosque known as Masjid Bakan inside Mochi Gate, Lahore, by Qazi Hamiduddin Khalifa.
History and background
[edit]The Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British Empire also known as the War of Independence of 1857 was an important and historical milestone in the history of South Asia. Many political and social movements were later inspired by it, including the Aligarh Movement, founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, and the Aligarh Muslim University (founded in 1878).[2]
Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam was founded in Lahore on 22 September 1884 in a mosque known as Masjid Bakan inside Mochi Gate, Lahore, by Khalifa Qazi Hameed-ud-Din. Association's first President was Abdul Qadir (1872 – 1950) who was a political activist and scholar.[1][3]
One of its major efforts was the foundation of a number of schools for Muslim girls and orphanages in the Punjab, where girls were taught Urdu, the Qur'an, mathematics, needlework, and crafts. It started a publishing house for appropriate textbooks for Muslim girls' and boys' schools, and these textbooks were used all over the Punjab and beyond. In 1939, it founded the Islamia College for Women in Lahore, the only one of its kind in the region, whose curriculum was the standard Bachelor of Arts program, supplemented by Islamic education. It also founded Islamia College Lahore in 1892.[4]
The Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam was a body that represented a spontaneous desire on the part of middle-class Muslims of Lahore to cooperate with each other for common good. The Anjuman also played a vital role to provide a political platform for Indian Muslims.[3]
Later, a number of other institutions were initiated in Pakistan under the auspices of or partially supported by the Anjuman. One of such most prominent schools which gained recognition and was later turned into a full-fledged government-run public high school is the Himayat-ul-Islam High School in Hyderabad, Sindh,[5] which has two distinct sections, the Himayat-ul-Islam Boys and Girls High Schools. The school was initiated by a prominent Shaikh Sindhi family in Hyderabad in the 1960s by granting their property with the sole aim of extending English-medium quality education to the masses.[3]
Achievements
[edit]The association is composed of Muslim intellectuals and politicians seeking to reform Muslim society and work on its development.[1] Some of its most prominent members included the famous poet Sir Muhammad Iqbal (1877 – 1938), who recited his first poems at the sessions of the Anjuman. Its purpose is the educational uplift of Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.[1][4][3]
"The Anjuman established educational institutions in arts, sciences and technology for men and women as well as orphanages for helpless Muslims, to which widows' homes were later added. The Moplah orphans, the victims of Bihar and Quetta earthquakes, and later the destitute children and widows of the 1947 holocaust, found shelter at these orphanages".[1]
"A landmark in the history of the Anjuman publication was the production of an absolutely correct text of the Holy Quran".[1]
Publications
[edit]- Risala-e-Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam (first published in 1885)[1]
Programs and services
[edit]In addition to numerous other charitable services, the Anjuman runs:
- Yateem Khana (an orphanage, established 1884)[1]
- Islamia College (Lahore) (established 1892)[1]
Public schools
[edit]- Dar-ul-Shafqat (for males only)
- Dar-ul-Shafqat (for females only)
- Dar-ul-Aman (for females only)
- Dar-ul-Uloom Deenia (for both males and females)
- Hamayat-e-Islam High School (for boys)[6]
- Hamayat-e-Islam Pasha Girls High School
- Hamayat-e-Islam Rajgarh School
- Hamayat-e-Islam Degree College (for women only)
- Hamayat-e-Islam Law College
- Hamayat-e-Islam Tibbya College
- Hamayat-e-Islam Younani Shafa Khana
- Hamayat-e-Islam Library
Syedna Taher Saifuddin's Speech (Translated from Urdu)
Gratitude to the Lord of the Worlds and blessings upon the Leader of the Messengers who is the last of the Prophets Mohammed Mustafa and his pure descendents and honoured companions
Honourable President and members of the Anjumana e Himayat e Islam and respected guests,
Today, to have been able to meet you and learn about your luminous services has been a source of great joy for me.
It is certainly true that the foundation upon which this organization has been established and the constitution which gudies it; in it lies the solution of the problems, especially the educational challenges, faced by the Islamic world today. This means that we must endeavour to teach all the knowledge and skills in the Islamc perspective and also ensure that institutes which impart worldly knowledge also teach about Islamic knowledge.
The meaning of knowledge is knowing the truth behind everything. It is possible that certain elements may become included in the means to acquire this purpose which may present the truth in the wrong way, and in this way the purpose to acquire knowledge is made null and void. The continuation of such errors leads to wrong concepts and a distorted culture. The purpose of knowledge is lost and it becomes a weapon to satisfy ones lust for power.
Allah Subhanuhu has stated, Allamal Insana Malam Yalum. Allah has taught man that which he knew not. This divine revelation clearly elaborates that who will teach and in which atmosphere.
The wrong means of teaching create wrong concepts and we must take a moment to ponder that Islamic knowledge, Islamic history and specially Quranic knowledge is being taught at the hands of those who have included the Westerm school of thought in its teaching and are in contrast to the Islamic perspective and culture. They have presented the Quran as a Book of Purpose. The result of this school of thought and method of imparting knowledge has manifested in the fact that Muslims themselves are referring to the history of Islam as The History of the Saracens.
Allah Subhanuhu has taken up the responsibility of the teaching of Quran and has stated that Rahman has taught the Quran so that the teaching of Quran may be as per His will and there is no room to present the Quran in an incorrect way.
If we become aware of this danger that can destroy our way of thinking and become focused on the point that erudition and nurturing takes plan in an Islamic atmosphere, then I am certain that we will be able to brideg the gulf that exisst today between religious obligations and wordly education.
Islam does not teach monasticism, instead it teaches man to prosper in the spiritual and worldly matters. Imam Ahmad ul Mastoor SA has explained this concept in a brief statement: Religion is not merely fasting and prayer, instead it is the building of the edifice of the world and the Hereafter.
You all have perved Islam yet you must keep in mind that Islamiat should contonue to be taught not from the Western perspective but from the Quranic point of view in an Islamic atmosphere. You must focus on the fact that our habits should be Islamic, all our coversation is Islamic, all aspects of our religion and our secular life is Islamic. I am pleased that among the long list of your organizations lies the opportunity to achieve this goal.
May Allah guide us towards the ability to perform good deeds so we may serve knowledge in an Islamic way and may be able to present Islamic knowledge in an academic way, and what we refer to as worldly knowledge; may we be able to learn it in an Islamic light. He Quran says that there is no dry or wet things but is mentioned in the eloquent book. This tells us that there is no knowledge but the Quran. We must recognize this and be able to rise in our comprehension of other disciplines due to our comprehension of the Quran. Ay Allah guide us that we may be free of prejudice and learnt the truth behind all things. The worldy knowledge which has come together in the city of knowledge, may the doors of this city always remain open.
I value your emotions of love from the bottom of my heart and am grateful to you all and pray before the Almighty that you all may attain success in all your purposes. May peace, harmony and happiness be in the world as has been taught by Islam. May we be guided towards the path of Islam and may our lifestyle be such that other people may also realise that the coming together of the world and religion can be achieved only through Islam. May the Almighty keep everyone happy and prosperous. I end on the gratitude of the Almighty. 1382 زري شعاعي
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Profile of Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam". Story of Pakistan website. 1 June 2003. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ Profile of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan on Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved 2 September 2021
- ^ a b c d S. M. Ikram (1995). "Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam in the book Indian Muslims and Partition of India (pages 167, 168, 169, 171, 183, 197, 205, 206, 207, 208, 225, 282, 513". Google Books website. Atlantic Publishers. ISBN 9788171563746.
- ^ a b Qureshi, M. Naeem. Pan-Islam in British Indian Politics: A Study of the Khilafat Movement, 1918-1924. Social, economic, and political studies of the Middle East and Asia, v. 66. Leiden: Brill, 1999.
- ^ "Government Boys High School HIMAYAT-UL-ISLAM, TILIC INCUNE HYDERABAD, Hyderabad City". www.schoolinglog.com.
- ^ Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam Government Boys High School, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan, schoolinglog.com website